# John 5.19-30

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-08-18 | updated: 2026-08-18 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 17. But Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">My Father worketh even until now, and I work.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.</span>
>
> **19. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel.</span> 21. <span class="rl-speech">For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.</span> 22. <span class="rl-speech">For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;</span> 23. <span class="rl-speech">that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.</span> 24. <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.</span> 25. <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.</span> 26. <span class="rl-speech">For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:</span> 27. <span class="rl-speech">and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.</span> 28. <span class="rl-speech">Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice,</span> 29. <span class="rl-speech">and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.</span> 30. <span class="rl-speech">I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.</span>**
>
> 31. <span class="rl-speech">If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.</span> 32. <span class="rl-speech">It is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.</span> (John 5:17-32, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 17. But Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">“My Father is still working, so I am working, too.”</span> 18. For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
>
> **19. Jesus therefore answered them, <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.</span> 21. <span class="rl-speech">For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.</span> 22. <span class="rl-speech">For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,</span> 23. <span class="rl-speech">that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.</span> 24. <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.</span> 25. <span class="rl-speech">Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live.</span> 26. <span class="rl-speech">For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.</span> 27. <span class="rl-speech">He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.</span> 28. <span class="rl-speech">Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice,</span> 29. <span class="rl-speech">and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.</span> 30. <span class="rl-speech">I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.</span>**
>
> 31. <span class="rl-speech">“If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid.</span> 32. <span class="rl-speech">It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true.</span> (John 5:17-32, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 17. But Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.</span>
>
> **19. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23. That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27. And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.**
>
> 31. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. (John 5:17-32, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 17. And Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">'My Father till now doth work, and I work;'</span> 18. because of this, then, were the Jews seeking the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the sabbath, but he also called God his own Father, making himself equal to God.
>
> **19. Jesus therefore responded and said to them, <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to you, The Son is not able to do anything of himself, if he may not see the Father doing anything; for whatever things He may do, these also the Son in like manner doth;</span> 20. <span class="rl-speech">for the Father doth love the Son, and doth shew to him all things that He himself doth; and greater works than these He will shew him, that ye may wonder.</span> 21. <span class="rl-speech">'For, as the Father doth raise the dead, and doth make alive, so also the Son doth make alive whom he willeth;</span> 22. <span class="rl-speech">for neither doth the Father judge any one, but all the judgment He hath given to the Son,</span> 23. <span class="rl-speech">that all may honour the Son according as they honour the Father; he who is not honouring the Son, doth not honour the Father who sent him.</span> 24. <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to you, He who is hearing my word, and is believing Him who sent me, hath life age-during, and to judgment he doth not come, but hath passed out of the death to the life.</span> 25. <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to you, There cometh an hour, and it now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and those having heard shall live;</span> 26. <span class="rl-speech">for, as the Father hath life in himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life in himself,</span> 27. <span class="rl-speech">and authority He gave him also to do judgment, because he is Son of Man.</span> 28. <span class="rl-speech">'Wonder not at this, because there doth come an hour in which all those in the tombs shall hear his voice,</span> 29. <span class="rl-speech">and they shall come forth; those who did the good things to a rising again of life, and those who practised the evil things to a rising again of judgment.</span> 30. <span class="rl-speech">'I am not able of myself to do anything; according as I hear I judge, and my judgment is righteous, because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father who sent me.</span>**
>
> 31. <span class="rl-speech">'If I testify concerning myself, my testimony is not true;</span> 32. <span class="rl-speech">another there is who is testifying concerning me, and I have known that the testimony that he doth testify concerning me is true;</span> (John 5:17-32, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word._

- [G1607 - ekporeuomai](/codex/g1607-ekporeuomai/), *ekporeuomai*, Strong's G1607
- [G0386 - anastasis](/codex/g0386-anastasis/), *anastasis*, Strong's G0386
- [G2920 - krisis](/codex/g2920-krisis/), *krisis*, Strong's G2920
- [G0166 - aionios](/codex/g0166-aionios/), *aionios*, Strong's G0166
- [G1342 - dikaios](/codex/g1342-dikaios/), *dikaios*, Strong's G1342
- [G2288 - thanatos](/codex/g2288-thanatos/), *thanatos*, Strong's G2288

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Anointing Implies Subordination Objection Defeater](/codex/anointing-implies-subordination-objection-defeater/), via [John 5.19](/codex/john-5-19/), [John 5.22-23](/codex/john-5-22-23/)
- [Argument from Origin of Life](/codex/argument-from-origin-of-life/), via [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/)
- [Argument from the Information-Conservation Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-information-conservation-convergence/), via [John 5.28-29](/codex/john-5-28-29/)
- [Biogenesis Argument](/codex/biogenesis-argument/), via [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/)
- [Conditional Immortality from Text-First Method](/codex/conditional-immortality-from-text-first-method/), via [John 5.24](/codex/john-5-24/), [John 5.28-29](/codex/john-5-28-29/)
- [Jesus is Not a Human Sacrifice (Defeater)](/codex/jesus-is-not-a-human-sacrifice-defeater/), via [John 5.30](/codex/john-5-30/)
- [Jesus Never Claimed to Be God Objection Defeater](/codex/jesus-never-claimed-to-be-god-objection-defeater/), via [John 5.23](/codex/john-5-23/)
- [No One Can Die For Another Objection Defeater](/codex/no-one-can-die-for-another-objection-defeater/), via [John 5.30](/codex/john-5-30/)
- [Quran Confirms Jesus is God Argument](/codex/quran-confirms-jesus-is-god-argument/), via [John 5.19](/codex/john-5-19/), [John 5.21](/codex/john-5-21/)

**Concepts:**

- [100 Common Questions](/codex/100-common-questions/), via [John 5.23](/codex/john-5-23/)
- [Aseity](/codex/aseity/), via [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/)
- [Christ is God](/codex/christ-is-god/), via [John 5.22](/codex/john-5-22/)
- [Christian Muslim Defender](/codex/christian-muslim-defender/), via [John 5.19](/codex/john-5-19/), [John 5.24](/codex/john-5-24/), [John 5.30](/codex/john-5-30/)
- [Christianity](/codex/christianity/), via [John 5.22](/codex/john-5-22/), [John 5.28-29](/codex/john-5-28-29/)
- [Christology](/codex/christology/), via [John 5.22](/codex/john-5-22/)
- [Christs Deity](/codex/christs-deity/), via [John 5.21](/codex/john-5-21/), [John 5.22](/codex/john-5-22/), [John 5.23](/codex/john-5-23/)
- [Conditional Immortality](/codex/conditional-immortality/), via [John 5.28-29](/codex/john-5-28-29/)
- [Doctrine](/codex/doctrine/), via [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/)
- [Eschatology](/codex/eschatology/), via [John 5.22](/codex/john-5-22/), [John 5.28-29](/codex/john-5-28-29/)
- [Father-Son Authority Asymmetry](/codex/father-son-authority-asymmetry/), via [John 5.22](/codex/john-5-22/), [John 5.23](/codex/john-5-23/), [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/), [John 5.26-27](/codex/john-5-26-27/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 5](/codex/john-5/)
- [Lesson 2.4, Christology in One Lesson](/codex/lesson-2-4-christology-in-one-lesson/), via [John 5.22](/codex/john-5-22/)
- [Muslim Objections to the Divinity of Christ](/codex/muslim-objections-to-the-divinity-of-christ/), via [John 5.19](/codex/john-5-19/), [John 5.22](/codex/john-5-22/), [John 5.30](/codex/john-5-30/)
- [Necessary vs Contingent Being](/codex/necessary-vs-contingent-being/), via [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/)
- [Old Testament Witness to the Deity of Christ](/codex/old-testament-witness-to-the-deity-of-christ/), via [John 5.22-27](/codex/john-5-22-27/)
- [Penal Substitutionary Atonement](/codex/penal-substitutionary-atonement/), via [John 5.30](/codex/john-5-30/)
- [Resurrection](/codex/resurrection/), via [John 5.28-29](/codex/john-5-28-29/)
- [Resurrection of the Body](/codex/resurrection-of-the-body/), via [John 5.28-29](/codex/john-5-28-29/)
- [Son of Man Title](/codex/son-of-man-title/), via [John 5.27](/codex/john-5-27/)
- [Trinity Common Objections](/codex/trinity-common-objections/), via [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/)
- [Trinity vs Oneness vs Modalism vs Arianism](/codex/trinity-vs-oneness-vs-modalism-vs-arianism/), via [John 5.19-23](/codex/john-5-19-23/), [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/)
- [Young's Literal Translation](/codex/youngs-literal-translation/), via [John 5.24](/codex/john-5-24/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G0026 - agape](/codex/g0026-agape/), via [John 5.20](/codex/john-5-20/)
- [G0166 - aionios](/codex/g0166-aionios/), via [John 5.24](/codex/john-5-24/)
- [G0386 - anastasis](/codex/g0386-anastasis/), via [John 5.28-29](/codex/john-5-28-29/), [John 5.29](/codex/john-5-29/)
- [G1080 - gennao](/codex/g1080-gennao/), via [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/)
- [G1453 - egeiro](/codex/g1453-egeiro/), via [John 5.21](/codex/john-5-21/), [John 5.28-29](/codex/john-5-28-29/)
- [G2198 - zao](/codex/g2198-zao/), via [John 5.21](/codex/john-5-21/), [John 5.24](/codex/john-5-24/), [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/)
- [G2222 - zoe](/codex/g2222-zoe/), via [John 5.24](/codex/john-5-24/), [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/)
- [G2288 - thanatos](/codex/g2288-thanatos/), via [John 5.24](/codex/john-5-24/)
- [G2920 - krisis](/codex/g2920-krisis/), via [John 5.22](/codex/john-5-22/), [John 5.22-27](/codex/john-5-22-27/), [John 5.22-30](/codex/john-5-22-30/), [John 5.27](/codex/john-5-27/), [John 5.29](/codex/john-5-29/), [John 5.29-30](/codex/john-5-29-30/)
- [G3439 - monogenes](/codex/g3439-monogenes/), via [John 5.26](/codex/john-5-26/)
- [G3498 - nekros](/codex/g3498-nekros/), via [John 5.24-25](/codex/john-5-24-25/)
- [G3962 - pater](/codex/g3962-pater/), via [John 5.19-23](/codex/john-5-19-23/)
- [G4100 - pisteuo](/codex/g4100-pisteuo/), via [John 5.24](/codex/john-5-24/)
- [G5207 - huios](/codex/g5207-huios/), via [John 5.23-26](/codex/john-5-23-26/)
- [H0001 - ab](/codex/h0001-ab/), via [John 5.18-23](/codex/john-5-18-23/)
- [H6213 - asah](/codex/h6213-asah/), via [John 5.17-19](/codex/john-5-17-19/), [John 5.19](/codex/john-5-19/)
- [H8085 - shama](/codex/h8085-shama/), via [John 5.19](/codex/john-5-19/), [John 5.30](/codex/john-5-30/)

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## Notes

_Your annotations._

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.